History and heritage

72 days that shaped South Africa

Just how miraculous was South Africa's transition from apartheid to democracy? How
close did the country really come to civil war?
Check out our selection of press-clipping from the 72 days leading up to Nelson
Mandela's inauguration as South Africa's first democratically elected president in 1994
– and see how heavily the odds were stacked against the rainbow nation.

1 March 1994: Walvis Handover 'a triumph'

WALVIS BAY – South Africa's last remaining dispute with the international community
was formally ended at midnight last night as the South African flag was finally
lowered in Walvis Bay and the Namibian flag raised in its place.
The formal handing over of the enclave ended a worldwide campaign for its
incorporation that had been linked with the demands for Pretoria to surrender control
of Namibia and to end apartheid in South Africa.
The last lowering of the orange, white and blue flag was watched in silence by a
South
African delegation headed by Justice Minister Kobie Coetzee, Namibian President Sam
Nujoma and by representatives of African states and the Organisation of African Unity.
– The Star

2 March 1994: IFP, ANC in 'breakthrough'

The IFP is to consider provisionally registering for the April 27 elections. This emerged
after several hours of talks between the African National Congress president Mr
Nelson Mandela and IFP leader Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi in Durban yesterday.
Both the IFP and the ANC are also to explore possible international mediation to
resolve outstanding constitutional deadlocks.
Buthelezi said the IFP was determined to contest the election, but added that his
party's demands, as contained in the Freedom Alliance's proposals, had to be met.
The Zulu king's demands also affected the IFP's participation in the elections, he said.
– The Sowetan, Wednesday 2 March 1994

3 March 1994:
Split looms for CP

Cape Town – The Conservative Party is so racked by internal dissent that it could see
a breakaway right-wing group registering for the elections.
A group of CP MPs made it clear during a caucus meeting that it could go to the polls.
One source said that they had effectively "thrown down the gauntlet".
They argued that if the right wing could get support for a Volkstaat council – provided
for in the Interim Constitution this week – it could force a new government to
seriously consider allowing for the creation of such a homeland. – The
Star

4 March 1994: Volkstaat boundaries tomorrow

The borders of the Afrikaner volkstaat and the territory's constitution would be
unveiled at an open session of the Afrikaner Volksfront-aligned "people's
representative council" in Pretoria tomorrow, the AVF announced yesterday.
The AVF transitional assembly last week gave its constitutional committee
instructions
to submit a "concept constitution" and a visual presentation of the land claims of the
Afrikaner volk to the meeting for consideration and acceptance.
The AVF transitional body was implemented as a right-wing alternative to the
Transitional Executive Council, which has been described by constitutional committee
chairman and Conservative Party MP Fanie Jacobs as "irrelevant". – The
Citizen

5 March 1994: Cricket might become national sport

The ANC recognises sport as the single biggest "healer" in a country torn apart by
race and cultural differences.
And shadow sports minister Steve Tshwete is so encouraged by the role played by
cricket that he believes it could become SA's national sport.
At the Wanderers stadium yesterday, Tshwete sat watching the test match from the
front row of the plush Long Room. When the previous two South Africa-Australia
cricket tests were staged on this ground in 1967 and
1970, he was breaking rocks on
Robben Island.
Now in a position to break far more influential ground, Tshwete spoke of his
admiration for cricket's role in healing old wounds and gave his assurance that an ANC
government would have sport high on its list of priorities. – The Weekend
Star

6 March 1994: Viljoen crushed by right-wing hawks

Rampant Afrikaner Volksfront leaders yesterday swept aside an attempt by former
SADF chief Constand Viljoen and his moderate generals to register a right-wing party
for the April elections.
After a bitter nine-hour crisis meeting in which numerous personal insults were
directed at General Viljoen, hardline Conservative Party leader Ferdi Hartzenberg
announced triumphantly to rapturous applause: "We will not take part in the
elections". – The Sunday Times